Monday, February 26, 2018

1. Clap your hand, | all you | peoples;* shout to God | with a | cry of | joy.2. For the Lord Most High is | to be | feared;* he is the great King | over | all the | earth.3. He subdues the peoples under us,* and the | nations | under our | feet.4. He chooses our inheri- | tance for | us.* the pride of | Jacob | whom he | loves.5. God has gone up | with a | shout,* the Lord with | the sound | of the | ram's-horn.6. Sing praises to God, sing praises;* sing praises to our King, sing praises.7. For God is King of all the earth;* sing prai- | ses with | all your | skill.8. God reigns | over the | nations;* God sits | upon his | holy | throne.9. The nobles of the peoples have | gathered to- | gether;* with the people | of the | God of | Abraham.10. The rulers of the earth | belong to | God,* and | he is | highly ex- | alted.

1. Great is the LORD, and highly | to be | praised; * in the city of our God is his holy hill.

2. Beautiful and lofty, the joy of all the earth, is the | hill of | Zion, * the very center of the world and the | city of | the great | King.

3. God is | in her | citadels; *

he is known | to be | her sure | refuge.

4. Behold, the kings of | the earth | assembled *

and | marched for- | ward to- | gether.

5. They looked and | were a- | stounded; * they re- | treated and | fled in | terror.

6. Trembling | seized them | there; *

they writhed like a woman in childbirth,

like ships of the sea when the | east wind | shatters | them.

7. As we have heard, so have we seen,

in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city | of our | God; * God has | es- tablished | her for- | ever.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

1. Happy are they who consider the | poor and | needy! * the LORD will deliver them | in the | time of | trouble.2. The LORD preserves them and keeps them alive, so that they may be happy | in the | land; * he does not hand them over | to the will | of their | enemies.

Friday, February 16, 2018

I actually wrote this yesterday, but I did not get it posted last night. So, I'm still on track with my Lenten discipline. I tried to write this one in Phrygian mode. I will always remember Lauren Hill reading this Psalm at the Grammy's in her acceptance speech. I wanted to convey both the adversity of trials and hardship, along with the joy of deliverance.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Three years ago, for my Lenten discipline, I wrote an Anglican Chant for a psalm every day. I had intended to complete 40 chants for the first 40 Psalms in the 40 days of Lent. You can see those chants in earlier posts on this blog. Alas, I made it to Psalm 38. Fortunately, failing at a Lenten discipline just allows us to repent and once again experience the forgiveness of God.

I'm picking up where I left off for my discipline this year. I ask your prayers as I once again attempt to write forty chants in forty days. Below is today's chant on Psalm 39. I wrote a single chant that moves from c-minor to c-major because the verses of the psalm frequently express multiple emotions in a single verse. For example, verses 5-7 expound upon the shortness and transience of life. Then verse 8 reads,

And now, what is my hope?
O Lord, my hope is in you.

The despairing question of the first line is followed by the assured declaration of the second.

1. I said, "I will keep watch up- | on my ways,*
so that I do not | of-fend | with my | tongue.

2. I will put a muzzle | on my | mouth*
while the wick- | ed are | in my | presence."

3. So I held my tongue | and said | nothing;*
I refrained from rash words; but my | pain be- | came un- | bearable.

4. My heart was hot within me; while I pondered, the fire burst | into | flame;*
I | spoke out | with my | tongue:

5. Lord, let me know my end and the number | of my | days,*
so that I may know | how short | my life | is.

6. You have given me a mere handful of days and my lifetime is as nothing | in your | sight;*
truly, even those who stand erect are | but a | puff of | wind.

7. We walk about like a shadow, and in vain we | are in | turmoil;*
we heap up riches and cannot tell | who will | ga- ther | them.

8. And now, what | is my | hope?*
O Lord, | my hope | is in | you.

9. Deliver me from all | my trans- | gressions*
and do not make | me the | taunt of the | fool.

10. I fell silent and did not | open my | mouth,*
for surely it | was you | that did | it.

11. Take your af- | fliction from | me;*
I am worn down | by the blows | of your | hand.

12. With rebukes for sin you punish us; like a moth you eat away all that is | dear to | us;*
truly, everyone is | but a | puff of | wind.